SEIZE THE DAY
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explained. "But if you find the city so hard on you, you ought to get
out."
"I'll do that," said Wilhelm, "as soon as I can make the right
connection. Meanwhile ..."
His father interrupted, "Meanwhile I suggest you cut down on
drugs."
"You exaggerate that, Dad. I don't really ... I give myself a little
boost against ..." He almost pronounced the word "misery" but he
kept his resolution not to complain.
The doctor, however, fell into the error of pushing his advice too
hard.
It
was all he had to give his son and he gave it once more.
"Water and exercise," he said.
He wants a young, smart, successful son, thought Wilhelm, and he
said, "Oh, Father, it's nice of you to give me this medical advice, but
steam isn't going to cure what ails me."
The doctor measurably drew back, warned by the sudden weak
strain of Wilhelm's voice and all that the droop of his face, the swell
of his belly against the restraint of his belt intimated.
"Some new business?" he asked unwillingly.
Wilhelm made a great preliminary summary which involved the
whole of his body. He drew and held a long breath, and his color
changed and his eyes swam. "New?" he said.
"You make too much of your problems," said the doctor. "They
ought not to be turned into a career. Concentrate on real troubl es–
fatal sickness, accidents." The old man's whole manner said, 'Wilky,
don't start this on me. I have a right at my age to be spared.'
Wilhelm himself prayed for restraint; he knew this weakness of his
and fought it. He knew, also, his father's character. And he began
mildly, "As far as the fatal part of it goes, everyone on this side of
the grave is the same distance from death. No, I guess my trouble is
not exactly new. I've got to pay premiums on two policies for the boys.
Margaret sent them to me. She unloads everything on me. Her mother
left her an income. She won't even file a joint tax return. I get stuck.
Etcetera. But you've heard the whole story before."
"I certainly have," said the old man. "And I've told you to stop
giving her so much money."
Wilhelm worked his lips in silence before he could speak. The
congestion was growing. "Oh, but my kids, Father. My kids. I love
them. I don't want them to lack anything."
The doctor said with a half-deaf benevolence, "Well, naturally.
And she, I'll bet, is the beneficiary."
"Let her be. I'd sooner die myself before I collected a cent of
such money."
"Ah yes," the old man sighed. He did not like the mention of
death. "Did I tell you that your sister Catherine-Philippa, is after
me again."
"What for?"
"She wants to rent a gallery for an exhibition."
